THe Peninsula 1 the balmain 33 1 association incorporated Miiiisdu news sheet

Vol 38 No 6 Issue 286 Founded November 1965 D e c e m b e r 2 0 0 3

Ballast Point Park Concept Plan ^he Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) has exhibited a concept design for the park on Ballast Point. The main objects are to create a sustainable design in a green parkland setting with a strong tree canopy.of fig trees and Angophora, recognition of the his torical layers that have shaped Ballast Point including natural, in dustrial and maritime heritage and creation of a park that is ac cessible and safe for users of all ages. The plan features an industrial inter pretation garden on the exposed sandstone ridge with a shade can opy identifying the iocation of Menevia, Two tanks on the southern side will be lowered for storeage for Parking is on the previous site in Wharf Road and in Yeend Street.More infor the maritime refuelling depot, mation is available on SHFA website: www,shfa,nsw,gov,au

23 Ballast Point Rd, St^cripftons Birchgrove ifyou received € Percy 1881 (Photo right) tenewdl form witrt fhis issue youf ^he History Group of the Associa- * tion sometimes attends house ^scr{ption\K due auctions when the house or some fej renewal. family importance to Balmain had Please post thd lived there, and this happened fdifn^fd PO Bdx-57 with the above address. Balmain. I went mainly because a member of the Mort family lived there for many years, John Mort, grandson of Thomas Mort co-founder of Mort's I was there on open day and imag Birchgrove. We had a lovely chat Dock in the 1850s, lived there from ine my surprise when the estate about the old home and sent us a 1915 to 1965, agent told me that a Mort was also lovely photograph of her father John The former Dock site is now a park looking over her old childhood for our archives. Phyllis took some and housing and as I grew up know home. I was so thrilled to meet a photos of the house for a keepsake. ing the dock, I was very interested in member of the Mort family. Phyllis The next Sunday saw me return with the house. At least three of his chil Miller was coming off the front up my camera and i olso have taken dren were born there. Thomas, stairs veranda, when I spoke to her. photos for our archives. All in all this Charles and twin brother Erskine, al During the conversation she said was a wonderful experience for me ways known as Laidley, and a that they never used the veranda that brought back many childhood daughter Phyllis, born in Tasmania. when she was a child as it was al memories of my growing up with Two other children were born but I ways so dirty from the works and the M o r t ' s D o c k . area was called Balmain not do not know the place of birth. Bonnie Davidson George Weston and Horsley

DuringHouse December will present and an January exhibition the showing Watch some early Balmain land development maps with photographs of street name personalities. One early land owner was George Edward Weston of Weston Street, near Darling Street Wharf, Balmain. Weston purchased Lot 3, an area of two and half acres in the first land sale in October 1836, at a cost of £60 per acre. Weston's friend Captain James Pearson bid In his own name to save Weston the long trip from his home, Horsley, near Liverpool.

George Edward weston

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Lieutenant later Captain Weston of the East India Company's Bengal Army arrived in Sydney in 1829. Afterashort time, he proposed M r s B l a n c h e W e s t o n to Blanche Johnston, second daughter of Colonel George Johnston of Annandale. years where three children were born, one Johnston Street, Balmain and Johnston's Bay dying in infancy, was named in his honour. The couple were In 1806, Colonel Johnston had received a married in May 1829 at St James Church, 2000 acre grant near Liverpool, from Gov King. Sydney, Weston took his bride to India for two Johnston coiled the area King's Gift but pre ferred to live at Annandale, later to become the Sydney suburb Annandale, Blanche Johnston inherited King's Gift on the death of her fa ther in 1823 and on the return of the Weston's to Sydney in 1831, they moved to the property where they lived in a large mar quee tendered by many Indian s e r v a n t s u n t i l t h e i r h o u s e w a s completed in 1834, George Weston named the house Horsley after his birthplace in Surrey, England. The area then became known as Horsley Park, The house is still standing and was built by convicts from bricks A 1916 drawing of Horsley by architect William H Wilson mode on the estate and faced

i with plaster. The design was similar to bunga lows In India, containing seventeen rooms, with President's Report a stone-flogged verandah with Doric columns A nother year has flown by and we have and shutters with folding casements between. -^been busy and productive In many ways All Internal fittings ore of Imported Indian teak and the Eastern influence was enhanced by following the tradition set by the founders of the Balmain Association way back In the ; punkahs hanging from the celling of the grand 1960's. dining hall. There were not as many art and craft exhibi Weston also received a grant of land at tions throughout the post year as It was de Yarralumla Plains. When he died In 1856, his cided by the Committee that we must make widow and eldest surviving son, Edward Henry more time available for the historical photo Inherited the Balmain land. Because Weston died Intestate, It was not until 1861 that Lot 3 graphs, including the treasured Charles Kerry's was subdivided Into twelve lots, although on 1909 panoramic shots of Balmain. So, opart access road from Darling and Weston Streets, from setting aside two weekends during Heri had been cut through lots 4 and 5 In 1841 to tage Week for a magnificent display of ships and boat building, a display In keeping with this Weston's lot 3. Blanche Weston lived at Horsley for 70 years year's National Trust heritage theme to the age of 98 years, when it was said that We are very fortunate In that we receive for our archives interesting articles, letters and she had become the oldest Australian born person In the country having lived through the other memorabilia. I was asked to address the terms of twenty governors, including her father. Balmain Hospital Auxiliary Group and took The early Weston's are burled In a vault at the along a copy of the 1953 Balmain & District Hospital report which hod been sent to us. I ^ old St Bartholomew Church, Prospect Hill. was delighted to see that these hardworking . After Blanche Weston's death In 1904, the ladles saw pictures that brought bock memo ; property later became the home of Mrs J C ries. One of the group was once a Matron at : Perry, a descendant of the original guarantee the hospital; others hod either trained or Colonel Johnston. The estate had Its own worked there in the post. Like me, they hod all school. A building was donated by Mrs Perry to demonstrated against the closing of our hospi the Education Department to establish a tal, and are still dedicated to supporting this lo school for the children residing on the estate. cal Icon. George and Blanche Weston hod nine chil Apart from lots of Saturday afternoon visitors dren. Son Edward Henry married his cousin, we hove hod groups visiting at other times. Mr; Emily Johnston, and settled at Albion Pork on ^eotley, Cubmoster, brought the Mort Boy 1500 acres called Macquarle's Gift. Cubs in to learn about the history of Balmain. ^ Sources: Lelchhordt Historical Journal No 11. The young ones and the parents who occom- i Colonial Heritage, F & J Lowry. A History of ponied them were very impressed especially i Fairfield. V George. with our history cell and the big picture of Morts :

Bonnie Davidson Dock In Its heyday

Treasurer's Report Management Committee The Association hod another good financial result President: Ann Bastok with Increased Income from the hire of the Watch House for exhibitions even though we hove reserved Vice-President: Rita Ellis i more time for our own displays. This has allowed a Secretary: Trish Mack | further expenditure of $11740 on conservation; al Treasurer: Vol Hamey though this Is down from last year. The salt has been Public Officer: Bob Ellis removed.from the walls using sacrificial plaster and Archivist: TrIsh Mock a chemical damp course Injected (old buildings Conservation: Jeremy Arnott had no damp course). There Is still work scheduled on this heritage building and sandstone blocks ore Editor: Vol Homey expensive.. Publlcotion^les were roughly the some Honorary Auditor: Tim Potter OS the previous year at $3800. Watch House Hire: Statement of Flnancigi^Poisitlon at 30 June 2003 Kathleen Homey, Bonnie Davidson ; Current Assets 2002 2003 Other Committee Member: Bonk Balance 17056.34 23822.36 June Lunsmon, 1 A i l p o s i t i o n s o r e h o n o r y | Term Deposit 15000.00 20000.00 Cosh In hand 151.55 6.60 Jeremy Arnott has resigned after glvlngj Sundry Debtors 161.40 215.40 great service as Secretary for over tert years. He will continue his management of Total Assets 32369.29 44044.36 conservation work with commendatlon| Creditors (Trust Fund) 658.30 658.30 from the Management Committee.. ; M e m b e r s F u n d s $31710.99 $43386.06 A group of Nicholson Street School boys and girls come with their teacher Mrs Fotheringhom while oil our historical photos were on display in September. They enjoyed their visit and I cer tainly enjoyed having them, They asked lots of questions and were so impressed with what they were able to learn about the history of t h e i r l o c a l a r e a . I'd like to take this opportunity to iet members know that Jeremy Arnott, our secretary for many moons, has aiso used his skills and knowl edge to moke sure a great deal of work has been done this year, this includes new outside signs and the defeat of the rising damp threat. Also throughout the year we have continued to lend our full support to those groups who ore active in trying to preserve our heritage areas. Caiian Park, Ballast Point being among these. Of course we oil know there's no letting up I Demolition by developers being stopped, de molition by neglect begins. As President of the Balmoin Association i hove ' been approached several times over the lost ] year by local residents who request that for her itage reasons the Association bocks up their protest against development applications ■ which,urb dearly. if approved, will cost our heritage sub-

Committee members and helpers all de serve praise for the effort they put into keeping the Association active and alive and I continue to enjoy my Saturday afternoon voluntary at tendance at Our House. ; I hope you oil remain inspired to renew your ; membership and encourage others to visit the : Wotch House and join too! Ann Bastok

B o o k L a u n c h To commemorate the bicentenary of the death of Dr William Balmain you ore invited : to attend the launch af Peter Reynold's book, I William Balmain and John Gilchrist, Family ; and Property, at Clontarf Cottage, Wallace St, Balmain at 2pm Saturday 6 December For catering purposes acceptances are de- . sired. Phone 9810 5185 If you ore unable to attend the book con be i purchased for $35 inc postage, GST. as weli as roots need watering. Spray heat resisting shrubs and trees with a W h a t ' s O n fine mist in early morning or late eve T i m e l y Ta s k s ning when the day is hot and windy. House ^xHlbltlons' Prepare your garden Here is a roundup of for the hot months by timely tasks.. Check ca spreading a layer of Each Saturday in mellia for scale and use m u l c h o v e r g a r d e n December & January white oil for control. Sow beds to keep roots cool i i . 3 0 a t n 3 | > m . . seed of primuls and to conserve mois Batmain Fedeiation m a l o c o i d e s a n d p . ture. You can use a mix Qiiiit contiaining over abconlca to make ex ture of decomposed 2Q0 patches designed cellent winter/spring pot leaf litter, compost, de by school children and plants. Keep families. cayed animal manure, Sub-division maps and dead-heading roses to peat moss and straw. extend their flowering photos of personalies Mulching helps reduce period. Jet hose aphids weed growth. If you go relating to street off new Puds,, names. on holiday at Christmas Illuminated Addresses Climbing roses that time, have a friend or have finished flowering f r o m o u r a r c h i v e s neighbour water your should be pruned now. garden at least once a J e n n i f e r L a v e n d e r Take lateral branches week, more often if pos A r t w o r k s 7 - 8 F e b b a c k t o t w o o r t h r e e sible if you hove a lot of Katharine Longhurst strong eyes. Old canes plants in pots as they dry A r t w o r k s 1 4 - 1 5 F e b and dead wood should out so quickly in the b e c u t o u t f r o m t h e heat, base, Plant out green Bonnie Davidson , Printed by Snap Print. Balmain. © Not to be repro plants struck from cut duced without permission. tings of dahlia. Leaves

the balmah The Peninsula association SURFACE POSTAGE incorporatedincorponiieG PAID news sheet MAIL a AUSTRALIA

If undelivered return to: The Balmain Association Inc PO Box 57 Balmain 2041

The Balmain Association Inc Annual subscriptions: Representing Balmain, Birchgrove & Rozelle. The Balmain Association meets on the first Our aims are to: Wednesday of each month at 7.00pm in the Household S20. Concession S10 Improve the living, working and recreational Watch House 179 Darling Street Balmain. The Organisations S30. amenities of our area; maintain all features hav Watch House is open every Saturday from 12 to ing natural, architectural and or historical value of 3pm, Our editorial phone/fax is 02 98184954. the area and keep a permanent collection of his Email :[email protected],au. torical interest; seek the cooperation of everyone Our Web site:; concerned in the realisation of the above. www.balmainassociation.homestead,com ATC^ 2^^ OBITUARY A fond farewell for Sam ^ f™"'' '>»•' B Y T I M L E S T E R honest family man SAVERIO Alipcrti, known to many as "Sam", BY JOHN FORD and to many more as "Ralph's Dad", died last SAVERIO {'Sam') Aliperti the Balmain month at the age of 83. For over 30 years shopkeeper turned many hundreds of his he served pancetta, prosciurto and a myriad customers into friends in the 31 years he of cheeses to the customers of Balmain's owned the deli. renowned Ralph's Delicatessen. He decided to open a 'true' Continental Sam settled in Australia in 1956, after deli with his wife Elisabetta and son Ralph already experiencing an extraordinary life in April 1972. in Italy. The family began to stock imported After getting married to Elisabetta in 1939, cheeses, sausages, olives (virtually Mussolini conscripted Sam and sent him to unknown in Australia until then) and the Libyan desert. other European 'deli foods', and in time He was then promptly captured by became the first 'proper' deli in the street. Australian troops before being interned in Today, it is the only full deli there. a POW camp in South Africa until after the An extraordinary life ... Saverio Aliperti Over the next 31 years, Sam Alipcrti war's end in 1945. On his return to Naples electronic till. Frustrated, he wrenched it welcomed people as customers and turned he discovered a war-torn Italy and his wife open with a crobar and it remains helplessly t h e m i n t o f r i e n d s . suggested migration to Australia. ajar to this day! All his thousands of customers through Firstly, he worked for the Sydney Water The world may, for the moment, seem a the years came to know him as a cheerful Board before setting up the ftmily business darker place for Ralph and his family but we shopkeeper, fond of a joke and always keen of Ralph's Deli in 1972. In the 1970s, should never forget the light cast on Darling to help them choose the food they really Sam found himself unable to open the new Street by our own Saverio Aliperti. wanted- and if he didn't have it, he would get it in for them. Son Ralph, and daughters-in-law Frances eyo and Mirella, gradually took over the main burden of running the business in later Terrace Restaurant years, but Sam made a point of still sitting behind the counter, occasionally serving, and greeting customers, and the family OP&36BAilS has decided to keep the chair there as a

Spacious Open Dining Area LUNCH permanent reminder of a young man who ^esSan IZfrn'Spm came to Balmain and left his honest and Footpath project of the council has Just cheerful mark on the community. been completed, so our restaurant can provide The funeral service booklet said of Sam: Tkan & a spacious open dining area for you. It's big 'Honesty was his ideal, his work of life, his fomily, his love.' enough to cater for a party of up to 20 people. FnSat SptU' ll SOpm